The window for those who were planning to apply for a new gTLD has closed.The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that there were 839 successful registrants in the online new generic Top Level Domain Application System. Even though there are 839 TLD Application,this number does not necessarily represents the total number of applications.Each registrant can apply for up to 50 new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD).

Even though the application deadline is on 12 April 2012,the 29 March deadline was put in place to ensure applicants have sufficient time before the deadline.

Here are the steps to apply for a new gTLD :

Applicant completes TAS user account information (user profile and applicant profile)
Applicant completes a TLD application request
ICANN conducts the Legal Compliance check (see Applicant Guidebook section 1.2.1 – Eligibility)
Applicant submits USD 5000 registration fee
ICANN confirms receipt of the USD 5000 registration fee
Applicant completes and submits the full application and remaining evaluation fee amount of USD 180000
ICANN confirms receipt of the USD 180000 registration fee

More information you can find here .